ACC commander, command chief visit JBB

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jake Richmond
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  Gen. William M. Fraser III, commander of Air Combat Command and the Air Component of Joint Forces Command, along with ACC Command Chief Master Sgt. Marty S. Klukas, visited the base Nov. 27, 2009, to thank Joint Base Balad personnel for their service and survey various missions here.

In an interview during their visit, the two major-command senior leaders shared their perspectives on Airmen's morale, provided advice and discussed their leadership goals.

Q: Gentlemen, for both of you, this is the first trip into the Iraq (area of responsibility) since taking your senior leadership positions in ACC. What are your impressions of the readiness and morale of deployed Airmen?

General Fraser: It's great to be back here. I've had the opportunity to visit both Iraq and Afghanistan before. I've been inspired and impressed with the attitude and the morale of all of the Airmen I've had to opportunity to visit and meet with and see in their workplaces this trip. They're inspired by the task that's before them, but yet they can visibly see that they're making a difference in things that are happening. I, too, can visibly see because I've been coming here for a number of years, and I can see a change not only physically on the ground, but I see it in the people and the locals who I've had the opportunity to meet with, both in Iraq and Afghanistan. And it is inspiring what these young men and women are doing on a day-to-day basis to help those who are a lot less fortunate.

Chief Klukas: I think, although we need to be concerned about our high utilization rates in some of the Air Force specialties, I see nothing but great things from our warriors who are the "boots on the ground," making the mission happen. I see no deterioration in attitudes. And, having been through the theater since 2002 in various locations, I'm absolutely impressed. Things will only get better, faster, stronger, and it's very impressive.

Q: Why was it important for you to visit deployed locations so soon after taking your new positions?

General Fraser: One of the things as we came aboard on our watch at Air Combat Command was a fact that if I looked to things that are going on, we need to remember that we are a nation at war. And we have young men and young women of all the services who are engaged in this conflict. I think it's very important for all of us to focus on today's fight. And we at Air Combat Command want to make sure that we're doing everything that we can to ensure that they're receiving the proper training and the proper equipment in order to accomplish the mission that's been set before them. So, by getting here early on and hearing from our Airmen, it will allow us to then go back and focus our efforts as we work for them to ensure that those who then come behind them are properly postured with equipment and training to do the mission.

Chief Klukas: I think we get better as we go along with the warfighting business, but I hope our visit sends a signal to our warriors that we really care about what they're doing here to prosecute the mission and that we can take back those things and work on some the issues that may have been lagging the fight. So, I hope it sends a message that we care and we want to fix any of the things that may need tweaking.

Q: General Fraser, what's one piece of advice you'd like to pass along to the deployed commanders leading Combat Air Force units and missions? And, Chief Klukas, what's one piece of advice you'd like to pass along to the young Airmen who are deployed here, supporting those missions on the ground level?

General Fraser: I have not met any commander more motivated and focused on the mission than these who are out here right now. So, my advice to them is to stay focused on the fight, and take care of those who are taking care of the mission. And they'll continue to succeed and make a huge difference here as they go forward.

Chief Klukas: I'd like to make sure those leaders are taking care of their warriors. For the youngest folks, I would say pay attention to the training. Although we are backing off and drawing down in the Iraqi theater here, pay attention because you never know what's around the next corner. Lead well, pay attention to the training, and keep your head on a swivel.